Amber Ale - Independence Brewing Review
Amber Ales go a long way back in American beer culture, and some of our most iconic beers come from this vein of hearty, rich beers that warm the bones or fill the stomach after a hard day of work. It’s the working man’s ale, full of malt depth and a touch of hoppiness to keep it balanced. It is an icon, and in our IPA dense culture an often overlooked icon.
Thankfully, many of our favorite brewers see the Amber Ale for what it is, an American icon that deserves its place on the tap line. One of those brewers is close to home for us—Independence Brewing out of Austin, bringing us their aptly named Austin Amber.
This beer is packed with a dense malt blend of Caramel, Pale Chocolate, and Double Roasted Crystal, and it’s rounded out in true American fashion with Nugget and Cascade hops. This results in the perfect 6.0% ABV and 32 IBUs.
Independence brews their Austin Amber in homage to the classic brewpub amber. That’s exactly what we’re looking for, so let’s see how it holds up to the greats.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Austin Amber pours a beautiful brown with that hint of red we’re looking for. It is clear as a fall morn, and is topped with a beige head that maintains well. Off to a good start.
On the Nose--It is really quite hoppy with the classic Cascade and Nugget hops. Caramel malt forward with a wonderful chocolate undertone. If you can’t tell, we love an Amber Ale, so let’s get to the fun part.
On the Palate--Austin Amber is quite expressive with a lot of malt depth but the right amount of floral hop bitterness from the Nugget and Cascade to offer some balance from the malt sweetness. This keeps it from being too sweet, along with the choice of Indy to use chocolate and double roasted malt to add smooth dark chocolate and roasted nut flavors that blend wonderfully with the caramel and floral notes. The mouthfeel is full and smooth, and it finishes dry, with the roasted malt and floral hops lingering through the finish.
Food Pairings: Independence Brewing suggests pairing Austin Amber with “Torchy’s queso, Franklin’s brisket, Dan’s burgers, Alamo Drafthouse’s herb parmesan popcorn, Home Slice’s pizza, Gourdough’s donuts.” Essentially what they suggest is, if you’re eating at an iconic Austin restaurant, get an Austin Amber. We love it with deep dish pizza.
Final Thoughts:
Even when a beer style seems old school and seen-before it can still surprise us. Austin Amber is one of those beers. It’s an Amber Ale that’s not afraid to be an Amber Ale. It’s aggressive, with a strong sense of self, and that makes it fun to drink. I like that Independence uses chocolate and roasted malts when a lot of brewers stick to different varieties of caramel malt. Their selection of malts adds layers to the traditional beer, making it stand out from the crowd. It’s dense, with a smooth and full mouthfeel, but remains easy to drink. Austin Amber is one of those beers that just goes with everything. Its elevated classic flavor, punched up hoppiness, and perfect ABV prime a good time. Support local if you live in the Austin area, and if you’re visiting, find an iconic food spot and get an Austin Amber. It’s simple like its name yet expressive like its city.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew